Physical Therapy Assistant Practice Exam 2026 - Free PTA Practice Questions and Study Guide

The term that describes pain or discomfort in the anterior knee, particularly in adolescents, is patellofemoral syndrome. This condition often arises from overuse, muscle imbalances, or issues with the alignment of the patella (kneecap) as it moves over the femur during activities such as running, jumping, or climbing stairs. Adolescents are more susceptible to this syndrome due to the rapid growth spurts they experience, which can lead to changes in strength and coordination between the muscles around the knee.

While Osgood-Schlatter disease is also a condition that affects adolescents and is characterized by pain in the knee region, it specifically involves inflammation of the bone at the top of the shinbone (tibia), where the patellar tendon attaches. This is a localized issue centered around the tibial tuberosity rather than generalized knee pain.

Legg-Calve-Perthes disease primarily affects the hip and involves a temporary loss of blood supply to the femoral head, leading to hip pain, while congenital hip dysplasia is a condition that results in improper formation of the hip joint and is usually present at birth, causing issues that manifest early in childhood rather than specifically presenting as anterior knee pain.

Thus, patellofem